Just saw 2 robins in my crabapple.

[booksenkatz]

I am in the Ann Arbor, MI area -- it is 8 degrees and there is snow on the ground. I've lived here 11 years and have never seen them in my yard this early. Poor things! What kinds of food can I put out for them? They always enjoy my yard in the spring and summer because I have numerous bird baths, but of course they prefer worms and bugs to my feeders. Not sure what I can do to lend them a hand in the dead of winter.:(

[semillama]

1. They'll be fine.

Robins turn into fruit-eaters in the winter - that's why they are in your crab apple. They won't eat anything you put out most likely. Once they get tired of your crab apple, they'll go find someone else's crab apple to feast on. Down here in Columbus, which isn't that far away, we regularly have large flocks of overwintering robins (which upon my move here 6 years ago was initially disconcerning to this Yooper!)

[booksenkatz]

2. My worry is...

the birds around here have already been through the crabapples and other fruit because they hung around here longer than usual before recently heading south. The whole cycle, the relationship of the birds to the plants, has been thrown off by the unseasonable warmth followed by a winter that was 2 months late in coming.

I'll never get used to seeing robins in January.

I threw them some bread, they were pretty happy about that! Best I could do. LOL

[vireo]

3. I would suggest getting a heater for your bird bath

That should make them happy.

Maybe toss some currants on the ground, but they might choose to ignore them.

[booksenkatz]

4. Oh, I've got several, believe me

In fact, I'd wager that my house is the only place with clean water for many, many blocks. I have several of them, at different levels, so that even the squirrels and cats and who-knows-what can have clean water! I'm such a sucker.

By the way -- I saw my first vireo this year. I never saw them down south, I had to move up here to Michigan to finally see one!:)

[vireo]

5. "Preacher bird"

If you have a resident vireo, you're sure to know it from the incessant singing. Seeing one is another matter! :hide:

[booksenkatz]

6. This guy wasn't a resident

He stopped in my yard for a few days whilst on his way to warmer climates. Never got to hear him sing a note!:(